The Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, has urged House of Representatives Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, to use his position as the fourth citizen in the national leadership hierarchy to help Lagos State retrieve all properties forcefully taken over by the Federal Government.
Oba Akiolu made the plea on Saturday when the speaker, accompanied by Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, paid a courtesy visit to the monarch in his palace.
The speaker was also accompanied by his deputy, Hon. Idris Wase, and other key members of the 360-member lower chamber.
The monarch said he had valid documents to lay claims to the properties which he claimed were taken during the military era, recalling that some of the seizures were dated back to 19th Century.
“We have a catalogue of requests from the Federal Government, from special status for the state to the return of all properties belonging to Lagos government which were taken away by military fiat. We want the properties to be returned to us,” Oba Akiolu said.
Akiolu equally charged the state government headed by Governor Sanwo-Olu to fight for the retrieval of the properties which, he said included CMS Grammar School and First Bank Building on the Lagos Island and harness them for improved service delivery in the state.
“I have documents in my possession, which dated back as far as 1800s, showing the ownership of all the properties from CMS Grammar School to the First Bank Building in Lagos. These properties are needed back for the improvement of our people,” the monarch said.
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Earlier, Governor Sanwo-Olu, while receiving Hon. Gbajabiamila, at the Lagos House, Ikeja, described his emergence as the Speaker of the House of Representatives, as a great feat for the state.
The governor expressed joy that a Lagosian had been entrusted with the speakership of the lower chamber of the nation’s National Assembly, describing such development as a major milestone in the annals of the state’s and the nation’s political history.
“We’re happy that as a Lagosian, you are the Speaker of the House of Representatives in Nigeria. This means a lot to us in the state. But beyond being a Lagosian, we’re happy that Nigeria is blessed with a great personality as her speaker. We know that you will work for the good of the country,” he said.
He informed Gbajabiamila that Lagos deserved more from the Federal Government, expressing the belief that the speaker would use his office to better the lot of the state.
Responding, Gbajabiamila described his homecoming as very emotional, noting that “it feels really great to be welcomed home by your people.”
According to Gbajabiamila, Lagos is his home, while Nigeria is his seat, promising to be fair to every Nigerian in his administration of the House of Representatives.
The speaker further promised better collaboration between the Federal and Lagos State governments, saying so much was expected of him as Speaker, House of Representatives and Governor Sanwo-Olu to deliver the dividends of democracy.
“So much is expected of you as much as it is expected of me too. But I know you and I know your pedigree. Chances are that you will surpass those expectations,” Gbajabiamila said.
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